Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-05-21
"REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC nEN.


By BEN: PERtEf PooRE.
! Albert Pike was eloquently eulogized
at his wake" Che being presently by
Prof. Dimitry of Louisiana, who said
of him, $50 long as life is ours, his
moral worth shall live with us; and
could the history of the country, could
the registry of its men of mark, be false
90 the record of that worth, he would
still live in the hearted memories of all
who knew, and, knowing, loved him.
Distinguished as writer, bold as a
politician, and useful as man, he had
won respect from all for his varied
abilities, and affection for the noble
qualities by which they were digniied.
In him were happily fused those at
tributes which inspire friendship with
enthusiasm, and command the reliance
of fellow-men. The reason of tn g is,
that he was not only distinguished
| poet, q gallant soldier, q toilsome
scholar. q gorgeous orator and q pat
tern friend; not only man of high in
tellect, of tried loyalty and unfawed
honor; but he was also something
which, with the growing effeminacies
and the invading corruptions of the
time, is fast passing away with the
representative men of the land; he
was character, q true American
character!
@We were bound to him by no po-
litical sympathies; but we would have
blurred our own Judgment had we not
admired his varied talents and uncom-
mon attainments; but especially would
We have been false to lifelong faith
in the beautiful, could we have failed
to appreciate the moral splendors of
that character"
This fitting eulogium finished, Mr..
Burwell followed. He was gratified to
announce, upon the best authority, that
the distinguished defunct had burst the
cerements with which the newspapers
had enshrouded him. Not feeling
competent, however, to do justice in
prose to the extraordinary adventures
connected with his restoration, he ap-
pealed to their accomplished host, who
sang, with great taste, pathos and ef-
feet, "The second fytte of the fine
Arkansas gentleman, who died before
his time:
The fine Arkansas gentleman, restored to life
once more
Continued to enjoy himself as he had done be-
fore:
And, tired of civilized pursuits, concluded he
To see some Indian friends he had. and chase
the buffalo.
This fine Arkansas gentleman
Who died before his time.
Gen. Pike closed charming address
by saying: II submit it to your indul-
gence to decide whether, desiring to be
at peace with all the world, and to
serve my fellows, I may not be forgiven
for wishing to live little longer. If I
desired to live for myself alone, the
Judgment rendered against me ought
to be affirmed. In that case ] should
already have lived too long. I wish,
and I am sure we all wish, to work for
the men of the future, as the men of
the past have lived for US, and to plant
the acorns from which shall spring the
oaks that shall shelter those who will
live after we are dead. It is as natural
as to enjoy the shades of those our
fathers planted.
II detain you too long. May the
memory of each of you, when it comes
to you to die, be as kindly cherished
and as gently dealt with as mine has
been; and if you, like me, should have
the good fortune to read your own
obituaries, may you have as good cause
to be grateful for the consequences of
the mistake as have! You deserve no
less fortune, and I could wish you none
better"
Joseph R. Chandler, who was Wing
editor and Representative in Congress
from the city of Philadelphia, used to
tell story about the examination of
Gottleib Scherer, q good-looking Ger
man beer-house keeper, by George M.
Dallas, precise gentleman of the old
school, with q wealth of white hair.
Mr.. Dallas expected to make strong
point by eliciting something out Of the
following questions:
@Were you at Harrisburg, Mr.. |
Scherer, in December?"
@At Harrisburg in December, did you
say, Mr.. Dallas?"
"Yes, sir, I said at Harrisburg in De-
cember."
Putting his head down thoughtfully
for a moment, he replied, "No, sir, I
was not"
"Were you at Harrisburg in January,
Mr.. Scherer?"
cat Harrisburg in January, did you
say, Mr.. Dallas?"
"Yes, sir, I said at Harrisburg in
January"
Relapsing into thoughtful mood
for moment, mo, sir, I was not at
Harrisburg in January"
"Well, Mr.. Scherer, were you at
in February"
did you say at Harrisburg in Feb
ruary, Mr.. Dallas?" I
"Yes, sir; answer me, if you please,
[ said at Harrisburg in February"
Studying for moment or two as be-
before, mo, sir; was not at Harris
burg in February"
Getting somewhat out of patience
With him, Mr.. Dallas, elevating his
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